Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-25
No..1l'3SI
THE PACIFIC CABLE.
A LINE TO THE ylxADo's aEALN AMONG
THE POSSIBILITIES.


SAN FRANCISCO, November A.-Tbe
Eramiaer devotes pAee, with drawipes
in support Of projected cable which shall
cross the Pacific Ocean and connect the
United States directly with China, Japan,
Australia and the Sandwich islands
This project has been Agitated from TINE
to time, but the magnitude Of tbs under
taking has debared capitalists from max
ing the venture.
Appeals to the several governments have
been frequently made, and - far hsck -
1873 Congress passed an appUpriatioa bill
providing for survey of the Pacific ocsan's
bed between this coast and Japan with .
view Of ascei tanning themost feasible courss
over which to lay o cable. The work was
performed by the Tuscarora, under coua.-
mand Of Commodore Beikuap. Suhsequeut. .
ly, Commander J. n. Miller continued tne
exploration from the Sandwich lslands 20
Brisbane in Australia
With the exception, perhaps, Of the kuro
Siwo, or black stream Of Japan, where NE
water was nearly six miles In depthApd ths
current of terrific strength, no inauperAbie
difficulties were discovered. IL the Gov
ernment at that time entertained any tdeA
of laying O cable TO Japan it wns abandon.
sd. and since then nothing morc has been
done by Congress i'm this direction, though
appeals TO IL have been frequent Real
dents Of the Sandwich Islands have becn
most persistent and indefatigable agitAton
in behalf OF n cable, and Cyrus w. Field
has been regarded as sort Of commisssouer
intrusted by the islands 10 press the mat.
ter upon the attention Of Congreasmtn and
in every other manner 10 all in his povsrS
Ia connect the islands with some port on
the Pacific coast by cable. Thus far 20 lit
tie has been accomplished in this direction
that many have reached the conclusion
that Mr.. Field has not been very sincerein
his advocacy Of the project.
The importance Of thus connecting thoss
islands in given In q quantity OF interviews
with business men and citizens Of CAlifor-
MIA. Due emphasis is laid upon the STRAIT
ecic position Of the islands In the event Of
war bet ween the United States and any
foreign power. IL IL shown that the lay
ing of telegraphic cable 10 the Sandwich
Islands IL q desirable undertaking from
every point oi view u is possible 10 regard u.
San Francisco merchants, shippers, oon-
siguecs and the thousands generally whose
interests are more or lers closely linked
with the maritime commerce OF the city,
| would find IL TO their advantage, especially
IL the line were continued 10 Australis
and Japan. The profile Of the bottom OF
.ha h. hx Ira La
the United States Survey, demonstrates
that the cable can be laid without din.
Guilty.
IL is suggested that two branch cables
| be laid from the California coast, ous
starting from San Francisco and the other
from San Diego, and coming together at
cable station on the Sandwich lslands.
| From the Sandwich Islands two main
stems should be laid, one 20 proceed south
through the Phoenix, Samoa and ~ 10
lands To Brisbane, Australia, aud the
other to run directly across the Pacific 70
the Bonin Islands and then north 10
Yokohama, Japan. From Japan supple
mentary cable wonld connect the main
oceanic system with China. Still an
other vet of soundings are given m an out
line for n cable from the United States 10
Japan. This projected cable would run
northwest from Cape Flattery, or some
point near Puget sound. 10 the Aleutian
Islands. where cable stations would b
established. From the most westerly Of
the Aleutian Islands the cable would run
south southwest TO Yokohama, japan.
From the reports OF the naval officers
who made the sOubdings, 10 Appears that
the Pacific bottom In very uneven. The
currents in some places are too swim %
admit Of laying q cable, but by avoiding
these localities still water was found. The
deepest sounding wN found 10 be n, $50
feet, but from San Francisco 10 Honoluln
the ocsan bottom IL rsgulss and readily
adaptable 70 this laying Of n cable.
The E5am,Hr lays the facts and posi-
biliies before the business men and shown
that the growing trade with China and
Japan, with the Hawniian Islands and tbs
varions groups in the Southern Pacific and
Australia warrants the expenditure nsces.
sary for q fully equipped cable system. u
shows that little Is TO he hoped for froD
Government appropriations, snd urges this
laying Of Pacific cables by privsts entsr.
prise and Western capitalists.